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iPhone 6 vs. HTC One M8: What We Know So Far

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In late March, HTC unveiled and released its new HTC One M8, a successor to the original HTC One. Those in the hunt for a new smartphone would be wise to consider it though it’s getting harder and harder to turn away from the upcoming rumored crop of smartphones which includes Apple’s iPhone 6.

Last year, in an effort to battle the likes of the Galaxy S4 and iPhone 5s, HTC released the HTC One, a device that replaced the HTC One X+ and HTC One X. The HTC One emerged from the rumor mill with some powerful attributes including a beautiful metal design, full HD display, speedy processor, solid camera, useful Sense software, and a whole lot more. Needless to say, the HTC One was one of the top smartphones from last year.

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Even the best smartphones get replaced so it was no surprise to learn that the company was cooking up another HTC One. That device, the HTC One M8, debuted at an event in late March and was released the same day in the United States and elsewhere. It had big shoes to fill but the new HTC One M8 has filled them well. Like its predecessor, it’s also one of the best smartphones that money can buy.

Those in the market for a new device are likely taking a look at the HTC One M8 and what it has to offer. Consumers are likely weighing it against devices like the iPhone 5s and Galaxy S5 but also against the likes of the LG G3, Galaxy Note 4 and the iPhone 6, three of the biggest rumored smartphones of 2014.

In particular, the iPhone 6 is of interest because it’s rumored to finally be delivering a larger screen. Over the past month, we’ve started to hear a lot about Apple’s supposed plans. And while the iPhone 6 release may still be months away , there are still enough credible rumors to warrant an early comparison to HTC’s top option.

This comparison aims to help set the expectations of those who are thinking about buying the HTC One M8 or iPhone 6. The iPhone 6 is still very much a rumored device but this is how it’s stacking up, so far, with HTC’s flagship.

Release Date

The HTC One M8 is out on shelves on multiple carriers including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. It has only been on shelves for a few weeks and should remain on shelves for much, if not all of 2014. What this means is that it will likely be on shelves when the iPhone 6 arrives later on this year.

Unfortunately, it’s probably going to be awhile before consumers will be able to physically compare the iPhone 6 to the HTC One M8. And that’s because iPhone 6 rumors almost exclusively point to a release at some point this fall.

A fall iPhone 6 release makes sense given that Apple released its last three iPhone models in the fall and that the company appears to be focused on iOS and OS X software at WWDC. Apple tends to stick to launch patterns and it also tends to put new iOS software through a lengthy beta process before releasing it to the public. We haven’t seen an iOS 8 beta yet though we expect one to arrive this summer. It will likely take several months which means that an iPhone 6 release several months after WWDC is likely.

This could resemble the real iPhone 6.

This could resemble the real iPhone 6.

Rumors point to that very thing. Several weeks ago, the CEO of a company that partnered with Apple to sell the iPhone in Russia claimed that the iPhone 6 release would land in September. The rumor was extremely interesting given that this is the second Apple partner to point to the fall iPhone 6 release date.

His comments follow a long line of iPhone 6 release date rumors that point to the fall. Here are a few of the more recent reports that point to an iPhone release this fall:

  • iPhone 6 release date as early as September – Nikkei
  • iPhone 6 release date in August or September – Steve Milunovich UBS via Barrons
  • iPhone 6 release in the fall – Andy Hargreaves at Pacific Crest via Business Insider
  • iPhone 6 scheduled for third quarter 2014 – ZDNet Korea

Earlier today, a report on the Industrial Commercial Times, spotted by Macotakara, claimed that Pegatron earned 15% of Apple’s iPhone 6 shipments for a 4.7-inch iPhone model and that the device would be released in September, just like the iPhone 5s.

Nothing is set in stone until Apple sets it in stone but those debating between buying the HTC One M8 and the iPhone 6 should expect to wait several months at least.

Display

The HTC One M8 sports a 5-inch display, larger than the 4.7-inch display found on the original. It does, however, keep Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution. This high-resolution packs pixels together to offer a higher pixel per-inch rating than the iPhone 5s, even with the HTC One M8’s larger size.

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Rumors suggest that Apple could deliver an iPhone 6 that is more on par with the size, and strength, of HTC’s display. iPhone 6 rumors point to a bump in screen size, up from the 4-inch Retina Display found on the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5.

One iPhone 6 model is rumored to have a display that’s between 4.5-inches and 4.8-inches in size. A majority of rumors point to a 4.7-inch display in particular. That model is rumored to have a higher resolution display that’s on par with the top Android devices on the market including the HTC One M8.

Rumors also point to a larger 5.5-inch iPhone 6 that would compete against Samsung’s Galaxy Note and perhaps, the HTC One M8 “Prime” that is rumored for later in the year. Problem is, it looks like this model could be delayed into next year.

An iPhone 6 with a 4.7-inch display will likely be bigger than the iPhone 5s and iPhone 4s.

An iPhone 6 with a 4.7-inch display will likely be bigger than the iPhone 5s and iPhone 4s.

A report from Reuters claims that while Apple is planning a 4.7-inch iPhone 6 release for this fall, the larger 5.5-inch iPhone 6 may be delayed. In fact, rumors are starting to point to two possible release dates. EMSOne, Reuters, Ming-Chi Kuo, Steve Milunovich from UBS, and a new report from The Commercial Times all point to a delayed release for the larger 5.5-inch iPhone 6. The Commercial Times suggests that the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 may have been pushed into 2015.

Apple will also reportedly utilize sapphire for the iPhone 6 display. A Sapphire display would mean a more scratch-resistant display. If true, we could wind up seeing a iPhone 6 that not only comes with a bigger sized, higher-resolution screen but a display with improved battery efficiency and image quality.

A 5.5-inch iPhone 6 release faces challenges that could force a delay between a 4.7-inch and a 5.5-inch model.

A 5.5-inch iPhone 6 release faces challenges that could force a delay between a 4.7-inch and a 5.5-inch model.

Rumors are rumors but as of right now, it’s looking like the iPhone 6 will nearly match the HTC One M8 display in size and perhaps in firepower as well.

Design

HTC followed up last year’s aluminum HTC One design with another beautiful form factor. The new HTC One M8 is made of 90% metal, a jump from 70% on the original model.

New HTC One M8 Review -  7-X2

HTC accomplished this by engineering the design to allow antennas to communicate better through metal. The new HTC One is thicker and heavier than the iPhone 5s though the difference in weight is due to the difference in screen size. The HTC One M8 is a much larger phone than the iPhone 5s.

If the iPhone 6 comes with a larger display than the iPhone 5s, it will almost certainly come with a larger overall footprint which means that it will likely be more on par with a device like the HTC One M8. The image below will give consumers an idea about how big a 4.7-inch iPhone 6 might be compared to the HTC One M8. The dimensions are based on rumors.

The iPhone 6 with a 4.7-inch display may be slightly smaller than the Galaxy S5 and HTC One M8.

The iPhone 6 with a 4.7-inch display may be slightly smaller than the Galaxy S5 and HTC One M8.

iPhone 6 design rumors remain inconclusive despite several alleged iPhone 6 design leaks. A recent Macotakara report shared two possible sets of iPhone 6 dimensions for both the 4.7-inch model and 5+inch model. Here is how those rumors stack up with the measurements of the HTC One M8’s design.

  • iPhone 6 (4.7) -140 x 70 x 7mm
  • iPhone 6 (5.7) – 160 x 80 x 7mm
  • HTC One M8 – 146.4 x 70.6 x 9.4 mm

Well known leakster Sonny Dickson claims that the iPhone 6 may be as thin as 5.5mm. This smaller size could come in part from new display technology that reduces the thickness needed for display backlighting, as shared in a report on LEDInside of TrendForce.

iPhone 6 design rumors also suggest Apple may be able to deliver a new iPhone that is up to 26% thinner than the iPhone 5s. A recent leak from Ukrainian website suggests Apple is aiming for a smartphone as thin as 6mm, but Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities believes a 6.5 – 7mm thickness is easier for Apple to achieve.

The iPhone 6 could be as much as 26% thinner than the iPhone 5s.

The iPhone 6 could be as much as 26% thinner than the iPhone 5s.

In a note shared by MacRumors, Kuo says that he believes that the iPhone 6 will come with a power button on right and narrower bezels. The thinner bezels could potentially lead to an edge-to-edge display, something that we’ve seen pop up in rumors as of late.

Alleged iPhone 6 photos and mockups claim to show the exact look of the upcoming iPhone but thus far, they are inconclusive given that they could be based on rumors rather than inside information.

iPhone 6 Touch ID

The HTC One M8 does not feature a physical home button and instead relies on on-screen buttons for navigation. It also does not take advantage of a fingerprint sensor for added security and convenience. Apple’s iPhone 5s does feature a physical home button and does feature a fingerprint reader embedded in the home button for added security and convenience.

Unsurprisingly, iPhone 6 rumors point to Apple including Touch ID fingerprint technology on the iPhone 6 and on an array of rumored upcoming products.

Camera

HTC, like Apple, has held out of the megapixel race. The new HTC One features a 4MP Ultrapixel camera with a ƒ/2.0 aperture and a second camera to take a photo at a different focus point. It also delivers a better 5MP front-facing camera that can take nicer looking selfies, something that some consumers covet.

The video above will give consumers a pretty good idea about what to expect from the HTC One M8 camera but those that need some more information should check out our full length HTC One M8 review.

Apple and HTC have not joined the megapixel race.

Apple and HTC have not joined the megapixel race.

Rumors suggest that Apple may not join the race to push more megapixels in 2014 either. AppleInsider reports that Apple is planning to focus on “image-enhancing components” based on discussions with people familiar with the matter. So while the iPhone 6 may not have a 16MP camera sensor like the Samsung Galaxy S5, its camera will almost certainly be better than the shooter found on the iPhone 4s.

Specs

The iPhone 6 will likely come with more than just a new display, new design and a new camera. Apple should perform its yearly hardware maintenance and offer some improvements over the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5. In fact, rumors are already pointing to a number of potential upgrades over last year’s model.

Here, we take a look at how the iPhone 6′s rumored specifications compare to the specifications on the HTC One M8, a device that offers some impressive firepower of its own.

iPhone 6

  • Apple A8 64-bit processor
  • iOS 8
  • 4.5-4.8-inch and 5 -5.5-inch Sapphire displays
  • 2GB RAM
  • 16GB / 32GB/ 64GB / 128GB storage options
  • 3.2MP HD front-facing camera
  • 8-10MP rear-facing camera
  • 1,800 mAh battery
  • 802.11 ac Wi-Fi
  • Touch ID Fingerprint Sensor

HTC One M8

  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor
  • Android 4.4 KitKat w/ Sense 6
  • 5-inch Full HD display
  • 2GB RAM
  • 16GB / 32GB
  • 5MP front-facing camera
  • 4MP Ultrapixel rear-facing camera
  • 2,600 mAh battery
  • 802.11 ac Wi-Fi
  • No Physical Home Button

Software

These two companies take different approaches to their software. While both offer fast software updates, the look and feel of Android and iOS is completely different, something that buyers must take into account.

The HTC One M8 runs Android 4.4 KitKat but a modified version of it that incorporates the company’s Sense 6 skin. Sense 6 delivers an improved experience over Sense 5 and offers HTC One M8 some differences over iOS.

For instance, notifications are easier to dismiss in Android and users can customize the look of the new HTC One with themes in Sense 6. HTC BlinkFeed is a continually updating customizable news feed from multiple social networks and sources. Users can also tap or swipe when the display is off to launch directly to specific parts of the phone. The experience can be seen in the video below.

The current version of iOS is iOS 7.1 but the iPhone 6 will more than likely run the next version of Apple’s software, iOS 8. iOS 8 is widely expected to debut on June 2nd at Apple’s WWDC 2014 conference in San Francisco though that’s still unconfirmed.

Health and fitness are said to be a major focus of Apple’s new iOS 8 update and a collection of iOS 8 mock ups show what the company’s Healthbook feature could look like. Reports suggest that Apple has plans for a better Apple Maps, a standalone iTunes Radio app and more.

There is also talk of a much improved Siri. Techcrunch recently reported that Apple bought Novauris last year for an undisclosed sum. Apple is also rumored to be including Shazam support inside iOS 8, a feature that would let iPhone and iPad users use Siri to detect the song that is playing.

Mark Gurman from 9to5Mac adds that the software will work in conjunction with a brand new A8 processor from Apple. He claims that the processor will be focused on power consumption and efficiency something that is important if Apple is planning a larger, thinner iPhone 6.

He also says that the iPhone 6 and another device, possibly the rumored iWatch, will feature something known internally as “multi-resolution support.” The feature is said to be aimed at improving app performance and iOS across different resolutions.

iOS 8 is expected to look a lot like iOS 7 which means that those unfamiliar would be wise to check out the iOS 7.1 video below. It offers a grand tour of Apple’s mobile software.

Price

The HTC One M8 starts at $199.99 on contract, same as the iPhone 5s, same as the Samsung Galaxy S5. Those who are looking for a bit of a deal need only look to Amazon because the carrier typically offers deals on Android flagships. In fact, the Verizon version is going for $99.99 on-contract through Verizon at the moment.

Android smartphones have a way of becoming very cheap as time marches on and we expect the HTC One M8 to be extremely cheap by the time the iPhone 6 comes around. How cheap, we can’t say, but we wouldn’t be surprised if Amazon was selling it for less than $100 on-contract during the fall.

It’s not clear how much the iPhone 6 will cost but it’s certainly going to be more expensive than the HTC One M8. It will likely remain expensive too. Apple’s iPhone rarely fluctuates in price. Consumers will get the occasional deal but they’re typically for a limited time.

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In November, shortly after the iPhone 5s release, Chris Caso of Susquehanna Financial Group  said that he believed that the price of the iPhone 6 could jump up as much as $100 from the price of the iPhone 5s. Caso’s prediction was recently backed up by well known Jefferies analyst Peter Misek who says that he also believes that there is a potential for a $100 price jump. Others believe that the iPhone 6 might stay at $199.99.

A $100 price jump would put the iPhone 6 at $299.99 on-contract, or, the current price of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. That isn’t set in stone and the iPhone 6 price may not come into focus until much later this year.

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